I've been intermittently working on Von Gruenigen turns since last year. I've been making connected turns but, as I told Harald, I looked like a wounded duck. Typically, my free foot was held 12"-18" from my stance foot and I was desperately counterbalancing. As a result, my turns were very skidded.
Yesterday, I spent several runs practicing the Phantom Javelin and then one complete run practicing the release from the uphill edge. After doing that, I started practicing Von Gruenigen turns with a Javelin added. I also tried to "reverse Phantom" the free foot by tipping to the big toe edge (not easy -- I did experience some foot cramping). I'm not exactly sure why, but all of a sudden my turns went much better. Some of them were even carved. For sure, my balance was much better.
At any rate, I thought that I'd share this for anyone who, like me, has been struggling with Von Gruenigen turns.